Tatiana Saukova

Narva Kreenholmi Gümnaasium, Estonia

3D Modeling class

Why the ships are floating but the anchor is dipping down? In the lesson, students are given the task to find an answer to a problematic question by designing two models, conducting an experiment with them and presenting the results of their experiment to the class. During this activity students get acquainted or repeat the law of Archimedes (the law of floating bodies) that they had studied previously. For solving this problem, 3 lessons were required. The lesson took place in the 11 form at the end of the 3D modeling course.

General competencies developed during lessons included design-thinking and transdisciplinarity. The aim of the group of 3 lessons was to figure out the mechanism of floating bodies using the law of Archimedes (the law of floating bodies).  During these lessons following methods were used: group work, demonstration of experiment, modeling 3D-models on a computer, setting a task, conducting an experiment, presenting the result of the teamwork. Learning materials used for these lessons included digital material in the form of Google-presentation.

As an example following task was given: In the 3D-design program, simulate two 3D different shape models, conduct an experiment and present the results of the experiment electronically. The task was difficult enough to keep students interested as well as motivated to find the solution.

Students gave a positive feedback to these lessons. Even though they already knew the law of Archimedes, during the experiment they made new discoveries for themselves.

As a teacher, I liked demonstration of experiment, the presentation of the results of the experiment, the objects simulated by the students. However, the most important was that students were able to find links between theoretical material and practice.